Body Weight and Eating Habits Regulated by Specific Neurons

Two parts of the neuronal system are involved with eating habits and weight control as per researchers from Yale School of Medicine. Scientists have provided direct evidence that one that promotes eating and another that suppresses eating, are critical for the regulation of eating and body weight. These research findings are published in the recent issue of Nature Neuroscience.

The paper speaks about the agouti-related peptide-expressing (AgRP) neurons and suggests that these are required for eating. "Previous studies showed that the brain, particularly the hypothalamus, is responsible for the regulation of eating," says the co-senior author Tamas Horvath, who is also chair and associate professor in the Section of Comparative Medicine, and associate professor in neurobiology and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences. "But until now, no experimental evidence was available to prove that AgRP neurons are critical for acute regulation of eating."

Horvath’s collaborator Jens Bruening of the University of Cologne in Gera number of introduced the avian diphtheria toxin receptor into neurons in the feeding support system of transgenic mice. When the animals were adults, two injections of toxin caused the specific cell population to die within 48 hours, impairing the mouse’s ability to eat and resulting in acute anorexia. These mice also showed marked reduction in blood glucose, plasma insulin and Leptin concentrations.

"Our results confirm the hypothesis that these two systems are critical for eating and the cessation of eating," said Horvath. "Previous transgenic approaches failed to provide this proof because of compensatory mechanisms that could operate during development. None of those actually knocked out neuronal function. In this case, however, neurons are gone and there is no time to replace their function."

In explaining the significance of the finding, Horvath said, "It is important to ensure that the multibillion dollar academic and pharmaceutical approach against metabolic disorders is leaning in the right direction. The approach in general could also eventually lead to specific destruction of cells in other kinds of diseases."

More information on this topic and a number of other exciting research occurring at Yale University can be found at the their website.

Did you know?Two parts of the neuronal system are involved with eating habits and weight control as per researchers from Yale School of Medicine. Scientists have provided direct evidence that one that promotes eating and another that suppresses eating, are critical for the regulation of eating and body weight. These research findings are published in the recent issue of Nature Neuroscience.